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Suggestions for a graduation gift?

flw
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Greetings, friends and colleagues!

Our son made his college decision yesterday (drum roll please): the aerospace college at the University of North Dakota. He plans to major in commercial aviation. Ever since he saw The Rocketeer when he was little, he's wanted to be a pilot. Now he'll have the opportunity.

I was planning to buy him a new watch as a high school graduation present (he's worn a well used Seiko 5 for about five years now). Something in the range of about $2K or less. Given his interest in flight, I'd appreciate any suggestions for a pilot's watch (or any other style that occurs to you). Thanks in advance for your help!
 
dmtowl
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I'd really recommend checking out Sinn's stuff, specifically the Sinn 556i, Sinn 556a, Sinn 356. Beautiful, solid watches that are simple yet so sexy
 
Lurk41
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Sinn would be the most obvious choice for an aviator watch under 2k.

Others I can think of would be the Alpina Startimer, Oris BC3, Hamilton with their Khaki Aviation collection and the Pan Europ - not really an aviator watch, but each time I see the name I think about Pan Am 😁
 
amfalconer
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As with a couple of similar threads on this kind of thing, why don't you ask him if he'd like a watch, he may prefer money towards something else?

It's a lovely gesture, but unless you're sure he's a watch guy.... You wouldn't want to gift him something which he wouldn't like, or won't use.
 
NGO1
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THE SPEEDY REDUCED
Sorry for the all caps. But I don't think you can find a better watch than Reduced the $2k-ish.
One word -- Patina
 
Screen Shot 2021-03-25 at 4.20.02 PM.png
Spruce
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flw flw
Greetings, friends and colleagues!

Our son made his college decision yesterday (drum roll please): the aerospace college at the University of North Dakota. He plans to major in commercial aviation. Ever since he saw The Rocketeer when he was little, he's wanted to be a pilot. Now he'll have the opportunity.

I was planning to buy him a new watch as a high school graduation present (he's worn a well used Seiko 5 for about five years now). Something in the range of about $2K or less. Given his interest in flight, I'd appreciate any suggestions for a pilot's watch (or any other style that occurs to you). Thanks in advance for your help!
Congratulations to you both
 
Rochete
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amfalconer amfalconer
As with a couple of similar threads on this kind of thing, why don't you ask him if he'd like a watch, he may prefer money towards something else?

It's a lovely gesture, but unless you're sure he's a watch guy.... You wouldn't want to gift him something which he wouldn't like, or won't use.

Sometimes people need to be shown the light. No one better than a father for that.
 
Crunchie
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Assuming US prices are similar to UK ones, you’d have your pick of a few nice Oris watches in that price range.
 
Spruce
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Crunchie Crunchie
Assuming US prices are similar to UK ones, you’d have your pick of a few nice Oris watches in that price range.

That's a good idea.

This is my older one. Comfortable to wear, good size and with a nice, non-clunky profile.

BBA37D3E-5111-4FC6-AF9B-9EDBAF17C909.jpeg
 
cakey007
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How about a Doxa 300? Should get a nice choice of good second hand ones within that budget .
Not really something that on the general populations radar unless you like watches , which is a good thing at his age.
Look forward to having a similar sort of thing with my son one day.
 
AveConscientia
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I’m 19, not saying I speak for everyone my age anyhow here’s a few recommendations. First watch that came to mind would be a Stowa Fliger. Reasonably priced(around a thousand dollars), deep history, direct aviation ties, timeless, minimalist, and a dependable movement.
1BF3DED4-4C4C-4B75-9027-498277F0B468.jpeg

Second would be the Hamilton Aviation Pilot. A bit on the nose, but it’s well within budget and looks great!
C5B221A2-06BE-461C-8B9B-7185E8721BEC.jpeg

Then the obvious choice... With your budget the Pro will be near impossible to find. Besides the expensive to repair movement it’s just as good to the average non watch person.
5F9A54C4-07C1-4D18-B4C4-E6428530297F.jpeg

Personally I’ve been heavily hinting for years that after college I’d like a Speedy Pro. Best wishes in the search!
 
Woops
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If you wanted to go down the vintage route what about a Universal Geneve Polerouter? I find these watches timeless and elegant and they come with a terrific aviation back story and pedigree. A wide variety of designs and models are available and with patience you should be able to find something nice bang on your budget.

These watches can be dressed up or down and would look very smart indeed as part of a graduation outfit. Here are a couple of mine - you'll note the first one is even branded 'Jet'!

8D385917-391B-4928-84BF-CAFB0CEBB4B3.jpeg 67E738EF-DEE5-4C67-96C9-A29CCA29ADF6.jpeg
 
Flysatchmo
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flw flw
Greetings, friends and colleagues!

Our son made his college decision yesterday (drum roll please): the aerospace college at the University of North Dakota. He plans to major in commercial aviation. Ever since he saw The Rocketeer when he was little, he's wanted to be a pilot. Now he'll have the opportunity.

I was planning to buy him a new watch as a high school graduation present (he's worn a well used Seiko 5 for about five years now). Something in the range of about $2K or less. Given his interest in flight, I'd appreciate any suggestions for a pilot's watch (or any other style that occurs to you). Thanks in advance for your help!

Great program! Congrats! I’ve been an airline pilot for 30 years and I’ve worked with a bunch of guys who graduated from UND - who all loved it. How about getting him a nice Citizen Nighthawk or Seiko equivalent until he graduates then start him out with a Speedmaster for his aviation career. That’s what I did with my son. He decided to start flying during his last year of college but decided on the Marines. He became a Naval Aviator this past September and I presented him with my beloved 20 year old Speedmaster Pro. Super special! Nothing to fret over because whatever you do it will be awesome! Congratulations again!
 
amfalconer
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Rochete Rochete
Sometimes people need to be shown the light. No one better than a father for that.

Well I can't fault your logic!
 
wolfrichter
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Flysatchmo Flysatchmo
How about getting him a nice Citizen Nighthawk or Seiko equivalent until he graduates then start him out with a Speedmaster for his aviation career

I would back this up! Too many compromises at the sub-2k level for me and even 3k would open up a way bigger range of (pilot) watches.
 
flw
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So many great suggestions - I knew I could count on this community to help clear my mind on this. I was thinking initially about a Hamilton Khaki Aviation with the slide-rule bezel (so cool), but sending the young man a thousand miles away to live in a college dorm, and go to parties and everything else, with a $2k watch on his wrist seems a bit illogical. I like the idea of waiting for him to finish his program successfully and get his degree to give him a nicer watch. A Speedmaster is an excellent idea (perhaps mine, although I've had it for just a year), or the Hamilton, a Breitling, or a Longines. There's time to decide. In the meantime, I'm thinking about the Nighthawk or a Seiko SNA flight alarm chronograph.

Keep 'em coming! I'm still open to ideas 😀
 
flw
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BTW, @Flysatchmo - congratulations to you and your son on his Naval Aviator achievement! I didn't serve myself, but I have a lot of Marines in my family across several generations, including my sister - and my older son is an Army officer and a VMI graduate. Please pass along my thanks for your son's service.
 
MtnMarine
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flw flw
So many great suggestions - I knew I could count on this community to help clear my mind on this. I was thinking initially about a Hamilton Khaki Aviation with the slide-rule bezel (so cool), but sending the young man a thousand miles away to live in a college dorm, and go to parties and everything else, with a $2k watch on his wrist seems a bit illogical. I like the idea of waiting for him to finish his program successfully and get his degree to give him a nicer watch. A Speedmaster is an excellent idea (perhaps mine, although I've had it for just a year), or the Hamilton, a Breitling, or a Longines. There's time to decide. In the meantime, I'm thinking about the Nighthawk or a Seiko SNA flight alarm chronograph.

Keep 'em coming! I'm still open to ideas 😀



depending on how big he would like, I always think IWC or breitling navitimer for pilots. IWC may be higher but breitlings can be found for *very close* to your price, depending on age.

edit **
Edited:
 
STANDY
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Seiko Flightmaster should get him through his program. Cheap as chips and get him something better at the end of his program.....


69624DF7-FC36-4B4F-B06B-2C25555A803B.jpeg
 
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